Multi purpose digital printer

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a multi-purpose digital printer having a transfer roller making very thin or retractable printing material move while adhering to an adhesive on the transfer belt, to prevent twisting or wrinkling, and extension states of the printing material, so that it is possible to print not only on very thin or retractable printing material, but also on unfixed form, type or thick printing material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose digital printer, andmore particularly a printing machine with a transfer roller performingeffectively textile-printing operations not only to the very thin andretractable printing materials, but also to the very thick and unfixedform or type of special materials.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, in the conventional printing machine utilizing a technique ofsubtractive mixture, a digital controller sends digitalized signals to ahead of the printing machine, so that the head may inject proper amountsof ink of three primary colors comprising magenta, yellow, and cyan, andof a black color to a printing material to produce various color tones.Therefore, the latest printing machine makes it possible for a user todesign more easily what she/he wants.

In the technique of subtractive mixture, the head of the printingmachine equips several ink reservoirs, while each ink reservoir containsone color respectively. The head injects proper amounts of ink from eachreservoir to produce a new color tone. The head often equips another inkreservoir containing special color to produce a new color tone, ifnecessary.

By referencing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the conventional printing machine willbe described in the following statements.

The conventional printing machine equips a transfer belt 5 with a railshape on the top of a base 3, while the base 3 is supported by both legs1 contacting with the ground. A cartridge 9 is fixed with the transferbelt 5, so that a head 7 of the cartridge 9 can be moved through thetransfer belt 5. Additionally, a transfer axis 50 is connected with atransfer motor (not shown) within a driving panel 18 included in the oneside of the inner upper side of the base 3. Additionally, lots oftransfer rollers 51 on the transfer axis 50 protrude from the top of thebase 3 to make a printing material 17 move in the forward direction,while a press roller 40 placed correspondingly on the top of eachtransfer roller 51 presses down on the printing material 17.

Additionally, a feeding roller 11 included in the rear side of thedigital printing machine supplies the printing material 17 to the top ofthe base 3. When the cartridge 9 moves reciprocally to the left or theright direction on the top of the printing material 17, the head 7moving in combination with the cartridge 9 injects predetermined amountsof each color from the corresponding ink reservoir to perform printingoperations. The printed material is then recoiled in a rewinding roller12 located on the opposite side of the feeding roller 11.

An operation panel 16 covered by a cover 15 is equipped on the top ofthe base 3. Therefore, a user can input any desirable signal to beprinted in the printing material 17.

However, the conventional printing machine described in the abovestatements has the following problems. After the printing material 17 isput between lots of transfer rollers 51 and press rollers 40, thetransfer roller 51 rotates to make the printing material 17 move to thefront side of the base 3. When the printing material 17 is extremelythin in the case of textile printing, the speed of the printing material17 passing through between the transfer rollers 51 and the press rollers40 is different from that of the printing material 17 before thetransfer roller 51. Therefore, a portion of the printing material 17 isoften wrinkled causing the printing colors to overlap, resulting in ahigher percentage of defective printing operations, or is extended toomuch, causing the printing design to be distorted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the above described problems, the present inventiondiscloses a multi-purpose digital printer with a transfer roller, makingthe very thin and flexible printing material move on a transfer beltcoated with adhesive to prevent twisted, wrinkled, or extended states ofthe printing material.

Additionally the present invention provides a printing machine elevatingup and down a head on a base to a predetermined height to print not onlythe very thin and flexible material, but also the very thick and unfixedform or type of special materials.

To achieve the above described purpose, the present invention disclosesA multi-purpose digital printer comprising: a main body with apredetermined height and width; a head unit including a cartridge movinghorizontally according to the direction of the main body, and a head atthe one side of the cartridge injecting ink to print on a printingmaterial supplied from the rear of the main body; a transfer meansincluding front and rear transfer rollers coupled with a transfer motorin the front and the rear of the main body respectively, and a tracklaying and adhesive transfer belt connecting the front and the reartransfer rollers making the printing material movement stable; a reartransfer means including a rear bobbin axis having a bobbin wound withthe printing material in the rear of the main body, and multiple rearrollers at a predetermined position adjacent to the rear bobbin axistransferring the printing material to the forward direction stably; afront transfer means at the front of the main body, winding the printingmaterial past the transfer belt by the rear transfer means to a frontbobbin axis; a washing means eliminating the residues of the injectedink of the transfer belt and adhered foreign substances by rotation of aroller brush driven by a motor of the main body; and a belt heater of apredetermined position at the bottom of the main body eliminatingmoisture and maintaining the sticky state of the transfer belt passingthrough the washing means.

Additionally, the front transfer means comprises two position sensorsinstalled at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the fronttransfer roller; and a winding motor at the one side of the front bobbinaxis, receiving signals from the position sensors to rotate the frontbobbin axis to wind the printing material.

Additionally, the washing means comprises a washing tub under thetransfer belt, receiving washing water from the outside; a roller brushinside the washing tub, adjacent to the transfer belt; and a cylinder atthe bottom of the main body, capable of lifting up and down the washingtub.

Additionally, the multi-purpose digital printer further comprises aheater at the front of the main body to dry the printing materialtransferred to the front bobbin axis.

Additionally, the multi-purpose digital printer further comprises anelevating cylinder at both sides of the main body respectively, and ahead on the top of a piston of the elevating cylinder to adjust a gapbetween the transfer belt and the head unit.

Additionally, the multi-purpose digital printer further comprises apress means on the top of the rear transfer roller, to press theprinting material passing along the transfer belt at a predeterminedpressure by using a roller, wherein the press means includes anoperation link rotating at a predetermined angle by eccentric hingesinstalled on both sides of the main body; a handle operating the one endof the operation link; multiple fixing holes at the other operationlink; multiple adjusting holes corresponding to the multiple fixingholes at the other operation link; a stopper passing through theadjusting hole of the main body and the corresponding fixing holethereby joining the two together; and a roller rotatable at the twooperation links.

Additionally, the multi-purpose digital printer further comprises apositioning means at the rear of the main body to prevent positiondeviation of the printing material, wherein the positioning meansincludes a left and right adjusting roller rotatable between bothbrackets of the main body; two rear position sensors at a predeterminedposition from the rear transfer means; and a cylinder receiving signalsfrom one of the rear position sensors to lead the left and rightadjusting roller to set the deviated printing material in the correctposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals denote like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional printing machine;

FIG. 2 is a schema of a printing machine illustrating transfers of aprinting material according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a multi-purpose digital printer ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the multi-purpose digital printerof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the multi-purpose digitalprinter of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view enlarging a main part A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view enlarging a main part B of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view describing elevating states of a headand a main body of a printing machine according to the presentinvention.

EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, an example of which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view; FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view;and FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the multi-purpose digitalprinter according to the present invention.

In the printing machine according to the present invention, a supportingframe 110 is included in a predetermined height of the main body 100.Multiple casters 120 and stoppers 130 are included in the bottom area ofthe supporting frame 110.

The cartridge on the top of the main body 100 moves horizontally, and ahead (not shown) on one side of the cartridge injects ink onto aprinting material. Therefore, the head unit 200 comprising the cartridgeand the head (not shown) performs printing operations on the printingmaterial supplied from the backward direction.

A transfer means 300 of the main body 100 moving a printing material 900to the forward direction comprises a front and a rear transfer rollers310 and 320, installed in the front and the rear positions of thesupporting frame 110 respectively, while the front transfer roller 310is coupled with a transfer motor 330 shown in FIG. 4.

Additionally, a transfer means 300 includes a transfer belt 340 locatedbetween the front and the rear transfer rollers 310 and 320. Thetransfer belt 340 is a little thick and track type, and the surface ofthe transfer belt 340 is a rubber material coated by an adhesive.Therefore, it is possible for the very thin printing material 900 to beadhered to the surface of the transfer belt 340.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear of the main body 100 of the printingmachine includes a rear transfer means 400 sending the printing material900 to the head unit 200. The rear transfer means 400 comprises a rearbobbin axis 410 having a bobbin wound with the printing material 900,and multiple rear rollers 420, 430, 440 and 450 making the printingmaterial 900 move in the forward direction while unwinding the printingmaterial 900.

Additionally, a positioning means 460 is installed in the rear of themain body 100 of the printing machine to prevent position deviation ofthe printing material 900. The positioning means 460 comprises two rearposition sensors 464 and 465 installed on the left top of the reartransfer means 400. Therefore, the end of the left side of the printingmaterial 900 is located between the two rear position sensors 464 and465.

A bracket 461 of both sides of the main body 100 is fixed to a left andright adjusting roller 462. When the printing material 900 deviates fromthe position between the two rear position sensors 464 and 465, acylinder 463 connected with the left and right adjusting roller 462moves to one side to set the printing material 900 in the correctposition.

In other words, when the printing material 900 positioned between bothbrackets 461 passes through the rollers of the rear transfer mean 400,the end of the printing material 900 is located in between the two rearposition sensors 464 and 465 on the left top of the rear transfer means400. Therefore, the left rear position sensor detects drift of theprinting material 900 to the left direction, and the right rear positionsensor detects drifts of the printing material 900 to the rightdirection. As a result, the cylinder 463 makes the left and rightadjusting roller 462 move to the left or the right direction to preventdeviation of the printing material 900.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the front of the main body 100 of theprinting machine includes a front transfer means 500 winding theprinting material 900 transferred from the rear of the main body 100.The front transfer means 500 comprises two front position sensors 510and 520 set apart at a predetermined distance from the bottom of thefront transfer roller 310 of the transfer means 300, and a winding motor540 receiving signals of the front position sensors 510 and 520 torotate the front bobbin axis 530 to wind the printing material 900.

In other words, the printing material 900 is transferred from the fronttransfer roller 310 of the transfer roller 300 in the adhered statebecause of adhesion of the front transfer roller 310. When the printingmaterial 900 passing through the front position sensors 510 approachesthe front position sensor 520, the front position sensor 520 drives thewinding motor 540 to rotate the front bobbin axis 530. Therefore, theprinting material 900 adhered to the front transfer roller 310 becomesseparated from the front transfer roller 310.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the top of the rear transfer roller 320of the transfer means 300 includes a roller 810 of a press means 800pressing down on the printing material 900 passing through the transferbelt 340 at a predetermined pressure. An eccentric hinge 820 on bothsides of the main body 100 of the printing machine makes an operationlink 830 rotate in a predetermined angle. A driving handle 840 operatesthe one side of the operation link 830. The other side of the operationlink 830 includes multiple fixing holes 870 corresponding to multipleadjusting holes 850 so that a stopper 860 passing through the multipleadjusting holes 85Q of the main body 100 are joined with thecorresponding multiple fixing holes 870. Additionally, the ends of thetwo operation links 830 rotate the roller 810.

In this case, the one side of the handle 840 includes a cam protrusion841 corresponding to the operation link 830. Therefore, when the handle840 is rotated, the cam protrusion 841 utilizing the eccentric hinge 820as a center of leverage lifts up the operation link 830 to adjust thegap between the transfer belt 340 and the roller 810.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the main body 100 of the printing machineincludes a washing means 600 for eliminating the residues of theinjected ink of the transfer belt 340, and adhered foreign substances.The washing means 600 comprises a washing tub 610 under of the transferbelt 340 for receiving washing water from the outside and supplyingwashing water to the transfer belt 340, a roller brush 620 on the insideof the washing tub 610 adjacent to the transfer belt 340, a cylinder 630for lifting up and down the washing tub 610 to the bottom of the mainbody 100, and a guide cylinder 640 for stably leading the lifting of thewashing tub 610.

In other words, when the transfer belt 34Q gets more foreign substancesand the adhesiveness between the transfer belt 340 and the printingmaterial 900 is lowered, a switch in the head unit 200 is operated tolift up the washing tub 610 by the supports of the guide of the cylinder630 and the guide cylinder 640. Sequentially, the roller brush 620approaches the bottom of the transfer belt 340, and a washing motor 650makes the roller brush 620 rotate simultaneously. As a result, washingwater from the roller brush 620 eliminates foreign substances on thetransfer belt 340.

The bottom of the main body 100 of the printing machine includes a beltheater 660 in a proper position. The belt heater 660 eliminates moistureon the transfer belt 340 passing through the washing means 600 to keepthe surface of the transfer belt 340 in dry. Additionally, the front ofthe main body 100 includes a heater 700 for drying the printing material900 coming from the front bobbin axis 530.

Additionally, the head unit 200 is installed on the top of the piston ofan elevating cylinder 140 after an elevating cylinder 140 is installedon both sides of the main body 100 of the printing machine respectively.Therefore, by adjusting the gap between the transfer belt 340 and thehead unit 200, it is possible to print not only on very thin textilefabric, but also on an unfixed form or type of special material.

Operations and effects of the multi-purpose digital printer of thepresent invention will be described in the following statements.

As shown in the FIG. 5, the printing material 900 is installed on therear bobbin axis 410 of the rear transfer means 400 of the main body 100of the printing machine, and the printing material 900 is installed inthe multiple rear rollers 420 to 450, sequentially. Therefore, theprinting material 900 is installed on the transfer belt 340 of thetransfer means 300. Meanwhile, the printing material 900 is connectedwith the front bobbin axis 530 installed in the front transfer means 500of the front of the main body 100.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, after the printing material 900 isinstalled, the handle 840 of the press means 800 is rotated for the camprotrusion 841 to adjust the operation link 830, and the gap between thetransfer belt 340 and the roller 810 is adjusted to fit the thickness ofthe printing material 900. After adjusting the gap between the transferbelt 340 and the roller 810, the stopper 860 is inserted into theadjusting hole 850 of the main body 100 and into the fixing hole 870 ofthe operation link 830 to constantly maintain the gap between thetransfer belt 340 and the roller 840.

Sequentially, not only the transfer motor 330 of the transfer means 300but also the head unit 200 is operated to perform printing operations.Because the printing material 900 is moved in the states of spreadingand adhering to the transfer belt 340, it is possible to prevent verythin printing material 900 from twisting or wrinkling.

The printing material 900 completing printing operations after passingthrough the transfer belt 340, is dried by the heater 700 in the frontof the main body 100, and wound onto the front bobbin axis 530 of thefront transfer means 500.

When extremely thin printing material 900 is twisted, wrinkled ordeviated from the correct position of the rear rollers 420 to 450, thecylinder 463 connected with the left and right adjusting roller 462, asshown in FIG. 4, moves to the side direction to set the printingmaterial 900 to the correct position. In other words, while the printingmaterial 900 installed in both brackets 461 is passing through theroller of the rear transfer means 400, the end of the printing material900 is located between two rear position sensors 464 and 465 on the lefttop of the main body 100. Therefore, when the printing material 900 ismoved to the left direction, the left position sensor 465 detectsdeviation of the printing material 900, and the cylinder 463 makes theprinting material 900 move to the right direction. Similarly, when theprinting material 900 is moved to the right direction, the rightposition sensor 464 detects deviation of the printing material 900, andthe cylinder 463 makes the printing material 900 move to the leftdirection. As a result, twisting or wrinkling states of the printingmaterial 900 is prevented.

To print to the unfixed form, type or thick printing material 900, theelevating cylinder 140 on both sides of the main body 100 is operated towiden the gap between the transfer belt 340 and the head unit 200.Therefore, it is possible to print not only on very thin textile fabric,but also on unfixed form, type or thick printing material.

When plenty of foreign substances such as dust, are adhered to thetransfer belt 340, the switch on a control box is driven to lift up thewashing tub 610 by the supports of the cylinder 630 and the guidecylinder 640, and to move the roller brush 620 close to the bottom ofthe transfer belt 340. At the same time, the washing motor 650 rotatesthe roller brush 620, and washing water of the roller brush 620eliminates foreign substances on the transfer belt 340. Meanwhile,washing water containing foreign substances in the washing tub 610 isdrained out to the outside and fresh washing water is supplied from theoutside.

Additionally, the transfer belt 340 passing through the washing means600 is dried by the belt heater 660 to maintain the surface of thetransfer belt 340 in sticky state without any moisture. When theadhesiveness of the transfer belt 340 is greatly lowered even after thewashing and drying process, the transfer belt 340 is re-coated with anadhesive.

The printing machine of the present invention having a transfer rollermakes very thin or retractable printing material 900 move by adhering toan adhesive on the transfer belt 340. Therefore, it is possible toprevent twisting or wrinkling states, and also to prevent extensionstates of the printing material 900.

Additionally, the head unit 200 installed on the top of the main body100 is lifted up to a predetermined height. Therefore, it is possible toprint not only the very thin printing material 900, but also unfixedform, type or thick printing material 900.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A multi-purpose digital printer comprising: a main body with apredetermined height and width; a head unit including a cartridge movinghorizontally according to the direction of the main body, and a head atthe one side of the cartridge injecting ink to print on a printingmaterial supplied from the rear of the main body; a transfer meansincluding a front and a rear transfer rollers coupled with a transfermotor in the front and the rear of the main body respectively, and atrack laying and adhesive transfer belt connecting the front and therear transfer rollers making the printing material movement stable; arear transfer means including a rear bobbin axis installing a bobbinwired by the printing material in the rear of the main body, andmultiple rear rollers at a predetermined position adjacent to the rearbobbin axis stably transferring the printing material in the forwarddirection; a front transfer means at the front of the main body, windingthe printing material past the transfer belt by the rear transfer meansto a front bobbin axis; a washing means eliminating the residues of theinjected ink of the transfer belt and adhered foreign substances byrotation of a roller brush driven by a motor of the main body; a beltheater at a predetermined position on the bottom of the main bodyeliminating moisture and maintaining the sticky state of the transferbelt passing through the washing means; and a press means on the top ofthe rear transfer roller, to press the printing material passing thoughthe transfer belt in a predetermined pressure by using a roller, whereinthe press means includes: an operation link rotating in a predeterminedangle by eccentric hinges installed on both sides of the main body; ahandle operating the one end of the operation link; multiple fixingholes at the other operation link; multiple adjusting holescorresponding to the multiple fixing holes at the other operation link;a stopper passing through the adjusting hole of the main body joins theadjusting hole with the corresponding fixing hole; and a rollerrotatable at the two operation links.
 2. The multi-purpose digitalprinter according to claim 1, wherein the front transfer meanscomprises: two position sensors installed at a predetermined distancefrom the bottom of the front transfer roller; and a winding motor at theone side of the front bobbin axis, receiving signals from the positionsensors to rotate the front bobbin axis to wind the printing material.3. The multi-purpose digital printer according to claim 1, wherein thewashing means comprises: a washing tub at the bottom of the transferbelt, receiving washing water from the outside; a roller brush on theinside of the washing tub, adjacent to the transfer belt; and a cylinderat the bottom of the main body, lifting up and down the washing tub. 4.The multi-purpose digital printer according to claim 1, furthercomprising a heater at the front of the main body to dry the printingmaterial transferred to the front bobbin axis.
 5. The multi-purposedigital printer according to claim 1, further comprising an elevatingcylinder on both sides of the main body respectively, and a head on thetop of a piston of the elevating cylinder to adjust a gap between thetransfer belt and the head unit.
 6. A multipurpose digital printercomprising: a main body with a predetermined height and width; a headunit including a cartridge moving horizontally according to thedirection of the main body, and a head at the one side of the cartridgeinjecting ink to print on a printing material supplied from the rear ofthe main body; a transfer means including a front and a rear transferrollers coupled with a transfer motor in the front and the rear of themain body respectively, and a track laying and adhesive transfer beltconnecting the front and the rear transfer rollers making the printingmaterial movement stable; a rear transfer means including a rear bobbinaxis installing a bobbin wired by the printing material in the rear ofthe main body, and multiple rear rollers at a predetermined positionadjacent to the rear bobbin axis stably transferring the printingmaterial in the forward direction; a front transfer means at the frontof the main body, winding the printing material past the transfer beltby the rear transfer means to a front bobbin axis; a washing meanseliminating the residues of the injected ink of the transfer belt andadhered foreign substances by rotation of a roller brush driven by amotor of the main body; a belt heater at a predetermined position on thebottom of the main body eliminating moisture and maintaining the stickystate of the transfer belt passing through the washing means; and apositioning means at the rear of the main body to prevent positiondeviation of the printing material, wherein the positioning meansincludes: a left and right adjusting roller rotatable between bothbrackets of the main body; two rear position sensors at a predeterminedposition of the rear transfer means; and a cylinder receiving signalsfrom one of the rear position sensors to lead the left and rightadjusting roller to set the deviated printing material in the correctposition.